Semen CD4+ T cells and macrophages are productively infected at all stages of SIV infection in macaques.

ABSTRACT: The mucosal events of HIV transmission have been extensively studied, but the role of infected cells present in the genital and rectal secretions, and in the semen, in particular, remains a matter of debate. As a prerequisite to a thorough in vivo investigation of the early transmission events through infected cells, we characterized in detail by multi-parameter flow cytometry the changes in macaque seminal leukocytes during SIVmac251 infection, focusing on T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Using immunocytofluorescence targeting SIV proteins and real-time quantitative PCR targeting SIV DNA, we investigated the nature of the infected cells on sorted semen leukocytes from macaques at different stages of infection. Finally, we cocultured semen CD4(+) T cells and macrophages with a cel

SUBMITTER: Bernard-Stoecklin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3861532 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature